Maidstone United to spend £50,000 to expand stadium

Maidstone United have announced that they are planning to expand the capacity of the Gallagher Stadium only a year after moving in.

The club, which were promoted to the Isthmian League Premier Division via the play-offs last season, stated that they would be investing over £50,000 to improve the ground. Gallagher Stadium currently has a capacity of 2,226 with 442 of that figure being seated and was opened in July 2012. Now Maidstone is keen to increase the amount of supporters that can be accommodated following their promotion.

It was an impressive 2012/13 campaign for The Stones who finished second in the Isthmian League Division One South just a point behind champions Dulwich Hamlet. They went on to clinch promotion thanks to a win over Faversham Town in the play-off final. It was also a good season off the pitch as the club saw attendances average over 1,600 and directors believe that it is now the right time to expand.

Plans include extending the Loucas End stand to accommodate an extra 100 spectators while at the Henry Reeves and Co Stand end there will be the installation of additional refreshment and toilet facilities. There will be the introduction of a family area in between the main stand and the changing rooms while a semi-permanent bar outside the ground and a club shop will be opened.

Terry Casey, Maidstone United co-owner, said: "We had a limited amount of money that we could spend but we wanted to show that we are listening to our supporters and also demonstrating that we are not going to become complacent about the extraordinary support that we have had in our first season back in the town."

Maidstone United have boasted bringing through a number of players that have gone on to bigger things namely Manchester United and England's Chris Smalling. The centre-back played for The Stones between 2007 and 2008 before being signed by Fulham and then subsequently sold to the Premier League champion in 2010.